It is striking that we have many short series on the nomination list this year. Series of which the creators themselves wanted to end on a high note and not try to milk things endlessly (may you guess which one is the exception). We also have a number of nominations of which films and spin-off series will appear even after the end. We're not done with that just yet.
Below, in alphabetical order, are the top ten nominated best ended series from 2022;
After Life
Ricky Gervais is known for making short series. After Life is no exception to this. In just three six-episode seasons, he told the story of grieving widower Tony. The story was sad and comical at the same time, and heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Sincere sadness and silly jokes alternated, without being out of place. Despite its short duration, After Life is incredibly memorable.
Read the reviews written about After Life.
Better Call Saul
For a few years now we have enjoyed the story of Saul Goodman. Little by little, Jimmy McGill is sent down the dark path, and each season surpasses the last. Expectations for the sixth and final season were therefore high. And I think the fear that this would be disappointing was unfounded, because season six was very strong. And with a finale like this, Better Call Saul can compete with parent series Breaking Bad.
Read the reviews written about Better Call Saul.
Killing Eve
You sometimes have those series that don't really manage to surpass the charm and mystery of the first season. Killing Eve is such a series. The fire of season one was extinguished by the end of season four. And the end can be seen as a betrayal. But the later seasons also had their charms. Put Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh in one room and magical things happen. That proves every episode. And that's why Killing Eve is nominated in this category.
Read the reviews written about Killing Eve.
The Last Kingdom
The Last Kingdom was the BBC's answer to Vikings. In an England torn apart by Vikings, the nobleman Uhtred tries to retake his castle Bebbanburg. The Last Kingdom had everything Vikings had: intrigue and battles, emotion and violence. And the slightly more compact story made The Last Kingdom pleasant to watch. Despite season five being the last, Uhtred's story isn't over yet: a movie titled Seven Kings Must Die is in the works!
Read the reviews written about The Last Kingdom.
Locke & Key
Locke and Key was one such series that clearly tried to capitalize on the success of similar fantasy and science fiction series with young protagonists. But what Locke and Key tried worked very well. The young actors had a good time, and the idea of magical keys that could do anything made for creative and entertaining storylines. After three seasons, however, the story was over and we can look back on an extremely fun and inventive series.
Read the reviews written about Locke & Key.
Ozark
I didn't really watch Ozark myself. In an era of crime shows galore, Ozark may have been the victim of oversaturation. Especially since the first season took some time to get going. But once the series had found a nice pace, there was no stopping it. Putting Jason Bateman in impossible dilemmas is always a good idea, and with the fourth season Ozark managed to outdo itself several times and this series has earned a nomination.
Read the reviews written about Ozark.
Peaky Blinders
Season six of Peaky Blinders marked the end of the series, but not of the Shelbys. As with The Last Kingdom, the Birmingham crime family story concludes with a movie. Still, in season six we can once again enjoy everything that made Peaky Blinders so good: the design, the actors, the music, and the fantastic story. Actually, we can be happy that we get to see Tommy, Arthur and the rest of the gang again soon.
Read the reviews written about Peaky Blinders.
See
See was one of the first series created by Apple TV+. The story took us to a grim future where humanity had gone blind. Still, being able to see nothing doesn't have to be a limitation when it comes to waging war. Next to that, Jason Momoa in the lead role is a bonus. In this case, the creators have deliberately chosen to keep the series short, so that it can end on a high note. And it worked.
Read the reviews written about See.
The Walking Dead
Writer Robert Kirkman once described his comic book The Walking Dead as a zombie movie that never ended. And many viewers of the television series thought so too. The later seasons just didn't have the quality of the first few seasons. What a relief it must be that the series still managed to end reasonably strong after 11 seasons. The series is not quite finished yet. Various characters will be seen in their own spin-off in the coming years.
Read the reviews written about The Walking Dead.
Westworld
The most unfairly ended series in this list? The Westworld series took the idea of the movie of the same name and did something very unique with it. It was complex and raised interesting questions about humanity. Sometimes a bit too complex, but enthusiasts have enjoyed it. Although HBO thought it was enough to end it with four seasons, viewers were of the opinion that another season could have been added to round out the story nicely. Too bad the series didn't get that chance.
Read the reviews written about Westworld.
These were all ten nominees nominated by the readers, the writers, and myself. If you still want to choose a different series, you can always use your wildcard. Good luck voting!
